China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has announced the expansion of the visa-free transit policy effective December 17, 2024.
Key Changes
- Under the updated policy, qualifying travellers transiting through China can stay in the country for up to 240 hours (10 days) up from the previous 72 or 144 hours.
- The number of ports that can be used for visa-free transit has also increased by 21, from 39 to 60.
- The number of participating provinces has increased by 5 from 19 to 24. The new provinces are Anhui, Hainan, Guizhou, Shanxi (Taiyuan and Datong) and Jiangxi (Nanchang and Jingdezhen). The permitted stay areas of Fujian, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces and of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have been expanded.
The transit-visa free policy is applicable to nationals of 54 countries who require valid international travel documents and an onward travel ticket with a confirmed date and seat.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.